Depression
Everyone experiences depressed mood at various times in their life, especially during adolescence, after a major life transition (moving somewhere new, starting a new job, moving away for college), or after something bad happens (losing a job, losing a relationship, grieving a death). For some, the depressed mood is not related to anything specific, it lasts for weeks or months at a time or longer, and it vastly interferes with normal life. It may even cause thoughts of self-harm or suicide. In these instances, the depression is of greater clinical concern, and we might call it Major Depressive Disorder or Clinical Depression.
There are other diagnoses that are predominantly based on experiences of depression. These include Major Depressive Episode, Persistent Depressive Disorder (formally known as Dysthymia), or Bipolar Disorder.
If you think you are experiencing depression in one form or another and would like help managing and treating your symptoms, you can contact me here to make an appointment or schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation.
Major Depressive Episode/Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Episode is a precursor to Major Depressive Disorder. Within a two week period of time you might be experiencing one or both of the following:
- Loss of interest in most things you typically find enjoyable
- Depressed mood most days lasting all day or nearly all day
In addition, you may also be experiencing four or more of the following (three if both from above):
- Significant weight loss or weight gain
- Insomnia (not sleeping) or hypersomnia (sleeping all the time)
- Trouble communicating clearly (slow speech, unclear thought expression)
- Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Trouble concentrating, thinking, and indecisiveness
- Recurring thoughts of death, suicidality, or plans to commit suicide
The symptoms must be causing impairment in your social, family or work life and cannot be the result of substance abuse. If these symptoms persist for more than two weeks, or if you experience multiple episodes within a few months period of time, the diagnosis becomes Major Depressive Disorder. If these symptoms persist for more than two years, it becomes Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia).
Bipolar Disorder
The defining symptom of Bipolar Disorder is Mania or Manic Episodes. Mania is essentially the opposite of Major Depression; whereas, Major Depression feels like a deep low, Mania feels like a super high. A Manic Episode includes this high feeling state for at least a week and is coupled with three or more of the following:
- Easily distracted
- Fast, uninterruptable speech
- Racing thoughts
- Increase in goal-oriented tasks (on the go)
- Increased impulsivity (spending money, hypersexuality, risky behaviors)
People experiencing a Manic Episode typically have trouble sleeping (often staying awake for days at a time), they may experience grandiose delusions or hallucinations, and they may feel out of control or unstoppable. If the symptoms last less than a full week, but are present for at least four days, it is classified as a Hypomanic Episode.
There are subclasses of Bipolar Disorder used to describe the specific type of mood cycling experienced. The mood swings can reach both extremes of Mania and Major Depression, they may cycle between them without ever hitting the full extremes, or they might hit one extreme and cycle back without hitting the other extreme. When both extremes of high and low are present, it is called Mixed Affective Episode (sometimes referred to as Type II Bipolar).
Treatment
Research has demonstrated that one of the most effective forms of treatment for Depression is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which you can learn more about here.
In addition to CBT, I also incorporate Mindfulness breathing and meditation which you can read about here.
Sometimes medication is necessary in combination with therapy to reduce and manage symptoms of depression, and you can read more about my procedure with medication use here.